Redditch

Redditch's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 84,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Redditch increased by 6.9%, from about 78,800 to 84,200.

The addition of just over 5,400 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Redditch was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Redditch

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Redditch increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This urban area had a slightly lower average age than the West Midlands and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 3,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 10 and 19 years decreased by about 700.

About 11% of people in Redditch are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Redditch by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Redditch residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.0% to 5.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Redditch residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the West Midlands. The improvement brought health in Redditch close to the national average 5.5% in England described their health as good in 2011).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Redditch decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Redditch, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Redditch

The percentage of Redditch residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 4.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.9%, while the percentage of Redditch residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 3.5% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Redditch

The number of people in Redditch that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 11,000 in 2001 to just under 22,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 26% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 12% to 22%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Redditch that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 59,000 in 2001 to about 53,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 5,700 to about 5,300 (from 7.3% to 6.3%).

About 2,900 people (2.4%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,900 in 2001 (3.4%).

The population without a religion in Redditch increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Redditch by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Redditch at a faster rate than in Bromsgrove (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Redditch).

In Redditch, the proportion of private renting increased from 4.3% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Bromsgrove increased from 4.3% to 8.8%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 7.3% to 14%.

The rate of social housing in Redditch fell from 23% to 21%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71% to 66%.

Private renting in Redditch increased by 7.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Redditch, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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